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On this article, I’ll share with you the very best issues to do in Luang Prabang, Laos. It doesn’t matter if you’re solely planning your journey to Laos otherwise you’re already there; listed here are 18 wonderful issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang.
Issues that you must know earlier than the journey to Luang Prabang
Earlier than we begin with the very best issues to do in Luang Prabang, I’d wish to reply some regularly requested questions in regards to the metropolis.
Easy methods to get to Luang Prabang?
One of the vital essential questions is get to Luang Prabang. The best manner of getting there may be by airplane. You’ll be able to fly there immediately from Bangkok, Chiang Could and Hanoi (maybe, a number of different areas as effectively, however not as regularly). If you happen to’re flying to Vientiane first, you may also take a pace prepare, which takes round 4 hours; nevertheless, shopping for tickets is considerably problematic, as there is no such thing as a manner to purchase the tickets on-line, and the gross sales solely open 2 days earlier than the journey date. You may as well take an in a single day bus from Hanoi or Vientiane. You may as well get there by ferry, nevertheless it may take a few days!
Examine the costs and availability of flights to Luang Prabang right here >
Is Luang Prabang protected?
If you happen to’re questioning whether or not Luang Prabang is protected or not, I can guarantee you that it’s very protected. Luang Prabang is a tiny metropolis, and the locals are genuinely pleasant. In fact, I’ve a perspective or a vacationer – somebody, who spent lower than per week in Luang Prabang, however the one crime I’ve heard of there was the bike theft rip-off, the place the individuals, who you lease the bike from, discover the bike and steal it from the road after which ask you to pay them a full worth of the “stolen bike”. Thus, I solely suggest renting bikes from trusted corporations with many optimistic critiques.
Is Luang Prabang costly? How costly is Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang could be each very reasonably priced and fairly costly. It’s an idyllic city, so there are a number of ultra-luxurious lodges like Belmond, Rosewood and AMAN. Atypical resorts are additionally not too low-cost; you’ll be able to put together to pay £120-130 per evening. Nonetheless, if you wish to keep on a price range, there are many very low-cost hostels round.
Meals could be very low-cost in Luang Prabang – you’ll be able to eat effectively for lower than £10 per day for 3 meals. If you happen to eat avenue meals, you’ll be able to maybe survive with simply £5 a day.
Excursions and excursions will also be fairly reasonably priced except you purchase them from lodges and tour companies. The most affordable technique to do sightseeing is by both renting a bike (you may get a pleasant one for lower than $5 a day) or hiring a taxi and sharing it with a number of individuals. Taxi drivers cost $20-30 for a visit to the waterfalls & some landmarks on the best way, so when you cut up it between 4 individuals, that’s simply $5-$7 per individual.
Total, Luang Prabang was probably the most reasonably priced locations we have now visited in the previous couple of years!
How lengthy ought to I keep in Luang Prabang?
Lots of people come to Luang Prabang to work remotely, and why wouldn’t they? The climate is nice, every thing is reasonably priced, the surroundings is wonderful, and the web is nice. Nonetheless, when you’re coming as a vacationer, what number of days can be sufficient? I’d say in 3 days; it is possible for you to to see many of the issues round Luang Prabang and inside the town. Nonetheless, if you wish to take it sluggish and relaxation, I might say that perhaps 4-5 days can be even higher.
If you happen to don’t have an excessive amount of time, then 2 days would even be okay. Nonetheless, these 2 days must be fairly busy.
The place to remain in Luang Prabang?
Lastly, let’s focus on lodging and the place to remain in Luang Prabang. We stayed on the Bel Air Resort with beautiful river views. Nonetheless, the placement wasn’t the very best as a result of each time we wanted to go someplace (all of the locations apart from the airport have been throughout the river), we needed to cross a really scary bridge. Not the stunning Bamboo bridge, however the Outdated French Bridge that appeared prefer it was on the snapping point, with lacking picket planks and nails protruding all over the place. Not like the Bamboo bridge, this bridge was very excessive within the air, and any fall would have been deadly.
As an alternative, I like to recommend staying on the following locations:
Luxurious resorts: If cash isn’t an issue, these resorts can be a tremendous possibility: Burasari Heritage, Rosewood, 3 Nagas
Mid-range lodges and resorts: The Belle Rive, Angsana Maison
Very reasonably priced however fairly good place to remain in Luang Prabang: Villa Ouis
With out additional ado, let’s get began!
18 wonderful issues to do in Luang Prabang:
Take a sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River
My absolute favorite factor to do in Luang Prabang was taking a sundown cruise alongside the Mekong River. If you happen to can solely do one factor, that will be the factor I like to recommend doing in Laos. There are many cruise choices – from some actually fancy cruises that embody a 3-course dinner to some quite simple boats. You don’t must guide upfront, simply head to Khem Khong Road, and lots of boat homeowners’ll method you. We discovered a flyer promoting a sundown cruise for $5.5 per individual from Svan Mekong Cruises (that’s the spelling) in one of many companies (I feel you should buy it from Mekong Eden Home) and have been extraordinarily fortunate – there have been no different vacationers that day and we have been the one ones on this cruise!
The boat was additionally pretty – it had bean luggage and cosy seats, and we might additionally purchase beers and wine there (for an additional charge, nevertheless it was very reasonably priced as effectively).
It will get fairly chilly at evening, particularly in December/January, however we have been supplied blankets, which was very considerate and wonderful.
If you happen to’re eager about a dinner cruise, you’ll be able to verify this cruise on-line right here.
Stroll the Unesco Heritage protected a part of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang turned a UNESCO world heritage website in 1994, and that was completely deserved – Luang Prabang could be very fairly. Among the finest issues you are able to do in Luang Prabang is to put on comfy sneakers and for for a stroll or a motorcycle experience across the Outdated City – there are many stunning streets!
Go to the evening market on Sisavangvong Street
Sisavangvong Street is essentially the most well-known, busy and in style avenue in Luang Prabang. It will get particularly crowded within the night, round 6pm, when the evening market opens. The evening market in Luang Prabang has loads of stalls promoting garments, souvenirs and artwork. I’d say it’s primarily aimed toward vacationers, nevertheless it’s a must-visit attraction anyway.
Strive native avenue meals
Proper in the beginning of the Evening Market, there’s a everlasting avenue meals market in Luang Prabang. Most stalls open round 6pm and are in full swing by 7pm and 8pm. Nonetheless, when you come later, at 9pm or 10pm, you’ll nonetheless have the ability to discover some open stalls at this market.
Road meals in Laos could be very distinctive – you’ll be able to both attempt a number of small dishes from the stalls (e.g. all types of skewers) or get correct dishes within the restaurant stalls on the opposite facet of the market (subsequent to the large display). The preferred dish in Laos is Laap – a meat or fish salad, which is scrumptious however very spicy. Really, most dishes in Laos are very, very spicy! Even Jose couldn’t eat a few of the dishes – and he was born and raised in Mexico, a rustic with loads of spicy meals and folks snacking on chillies.
If you’re uninterested in spicy meals, take into account asking for a soup. Soups in Laos are usually not spicy!
Go to the Kuang Si waterfall
One of many fundamental sights of Luang Prabang is positioned exterior the town, circa 45 minutes away. You’ll be able to both get there by bike, purchase a tour or rent a taxi that can look ahead to you there for 3-4 hours for $20 for a day. Alternatively, you may get there by boat when you purchase a tour (that mixes Kuang Si Waterfalls and Pak Ou caves, for instance) – you’ll be able to guide a tour on-line right here.
Entrance to Kuang Si prices round $2.5 per individual, and you’ll swim in a few of the swimming pools there. Nonetheless, it will get very busy! There isn’t a lot mountain climbing/strolling close to Kuang Si. Nonetheless, additionally, you will go to a tiny village subsequent to the waterfall, which is gorgeous & very genuine. If you happen to’re hungry, don’t fear, there might be loads of meals choices within the village proper on the entrance to the waterfall.
Total, when you’re not planning to swim, you’ll be able to go to the waterfall and the village in about 45 minutes to 1 hour. On this case, when you employed a taxi, similar to we did, you may also ask your taxi driver to cease on the buffalo farm or on the rice farm proper exterior Luang Prabang.
Experience a bike
One other of the 15+ wonderful issues to do in Luang Prabang is driving a motorcycle. If you happen to’ve by no means pushed one earlier than, take into account taking the teachings. You may as well rent an electrical bike that’s not so quick & harmful. It’s actually enjoyable to drive round Luang Prabang on a bike, and also you’ll have the ability to entry loads of sights simply!
Stroll the bamboo bridge
One of many sights of Luang Prabang is the Bamboo Bridge throughout the Nam Khan River. It’s solely open 6 months a 12 months and will get rebuilt yearly because it will get destroyed as soon as the water ranges rise. You’ll want to pay 10,000 kips ($0.6) per individual to cross the bridge, nevertheless it’s price it. If you happen to’re visiting exterior the wet season, it is best to positively attempt to cross it at the very least as soon as!
Go to the Buffalo farm
A few the expats opened a buffalo farm exterior Luang Prabang a number of years in the past, and ever because it turned an attraction. You’ll be able to come to the farm to attempt a number of cheeses product of buffalo milk and buffalo ice cream. You may as well take a tour across the farm (I feel it prices round $10 per individual) and be taught extra in regards to the farm and even feed child buffalos from a bottle.
Learn to harvest rice at Residing Lang Farm
One other thrilling factor to do in Luang Prabang is go to a rice farm positioned simply exterior Luang Prabang, close to the Pullman Resort. You’ll be able to even stroll there from the city centre. It’s referred to as Residing Land Farm. You’ll be able to take part in planting and harvesting rice and, basically, be taught extra about rising rice and the significance of rice in Laos. You’ll be able to be taught extra on their web site right here.
Go to the MandaLao elephant sanctuary
You may as well go to the MandaLao elephant sanctuary, the place you’ll be able to have a non-riding expertise (trek subsequent to them) with elephants, be taught extra about elephants in Laos and assist elephant conservation. You’ll be able to be taught extra in regards to the expertise right here.
Climb the Mount Phou Si
One of many must-visit locations in Luang Prabang is Mount Phou Si – positioned proper within the coronary heart of the town; this mountain has a fantastic temple on the highest of it. There are many stairs to climb. Nonetheless, the views from there are effectively price it. The ticket to enter the higher a part of Mount Phou Si prices circa $1 per individual.
Have a therapeutic massage
If you happen to really feel pressured or simply wish to chill out, Luang Prabang is a good place to have a therapeutic massage! There are many therapeutic massage parlours throughout Luang Prabang, and most of them are very reasonably priced! In fact, there are luxurious therapeutic massage parlours as effectively, so you might have loads of choices for any price range.
See essentially the most stunning temples in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang has so many beautiful temples, monasteries and stupas. Essentially the most stunning is undoubtedly Haw Pha Bang, positioned proper on the backside of Mount Phou Si. There’s additionally Wat Wisunarat, which is extra non secular and manner much less touristy and Wat Sen. There are such a lot of temples within the Outdated City that it’s most likely not possible to go to all of them!
Go to the morning market
Luang Prabang has many markets! After the evening market, the second most well-known market can be the morning market, the place you will discover loads of native produce & groceries. It opens every single day at 5am and closes at 10am. You will discover it subsequent to the Ananta Villa Resort.
Observe the Alm Giving ceremony with the Buddhist monks
If you happen to’re an early chook and also you want to observe a really distinctive, stunning ceremony that is essential to locals, head to the Outdated City round 5:30am. It’s a ceremony the place native Buddhists supply alms (selfmade sticky rice) to the monks. Nonetheless, except you’re a Buddhist, you shouldn’t take part. As an alternative, you’ll be able to quietly observe the ceremony. You may as well take pictures (and not using a flash), however be sure you’re not in the best way and never obstructing anybody.
Pak Ou Caves
Pak Ou Caves are sometimes visited as a part of a tour. It’s a big website for locals, particularly Buddhists, and they’re completely filled with hundreds of Buddha photographs. Guests usually mix Pak Ou Caves with Kuang Si Waterfalls, e.g. this tour visits each landmarks!
Go trekking
If you happen to’re into sports activities and would get pleasure from one thing that features shifting and exquisite sceneries, then it is best to positively go trekking exterior Luang Prabang! You’ll be able to both analysis the routes your self after which head there utilizing taxis or purchase a trekking tour like this one. Both manner, you’ll positively get pleasure from trekking in such beautiful surroundings.
Go to the Pottery village
Lastly, you may also go to the pottery village positioned in Ban Chan, very near Luang Prabang (simply on the opposite facet of Mekong river), the place you’ll be able to take part in a pottery workshop and also have a eating expertise. If that seems like one thing you’d get pleasure from, you’ll be able to be taught extra and guide a tour right here.
Abstract of 18 wonderful issues to do in Luang Prabang
I hope that on this article, you discovered some fascinating locations that you simply want to go to in Luang Prabang. In fact, there are extra issues to do within the city and its environment, however I might solely write in regards to the issues we loved essentially the most / or heard from associates that they have been wonderful and positively price doing or visiting.
When you’ve got any questions, be happy to DM me at @lizatripsget – I’d have the ability to assist!
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